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LOS ANGELES - A woman sleeping on a street bench outside a drug store was doused with an accelerant and set on fire early Thursday morning in Van Nuys, a district of Los Angeles.
Witnesses told police that a man poured liquid -- possibly a beverage containing alcohol -- on the sleeping woman at about 1 a.m. outside a Walgreens store near Van Nuys Boulevard and Sherman Way. He lit a match and ran from the location, witnesses told police.
The woman, who is in her 60s, was hospitalized in critical condition. The victim will likely be transported to a Sherman Oaks burn center for treatment, police said.
Read more on NBCLosAngeles.com
"It was like when you pour gasoline on something -- like an explosion," said witness Erickson Ipina, who added that he often saw the homeless woman in the neighborhood.
The man purchased the bottle containing alcohol in the Walgreens store, then poured the contents on the woman, Ipina told a Newsreel photographer. Ipina said he called 911 and followed the attacker, who brandished a knife.
"He told me, 'Stop following me, or I will cut you,'" Ipina said. "I kept following him and then the police came."
One person was taken into custody after the attack.
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Is this the same person that set a man on fire that was sitting outside a store waiting for his elderly father to come out?? If so, fry the jerk.
The attacks on homeless people is disgusting, and just petty. They're not real men, those who attack these homeless people. They're little kids who think they're big boys. Pfft... bring back eye for an eye!
I just hope the woman recovers enough and isn't in too much pain. The hospital better take good care of her regardless her status!
Look for more attacks like this thanks to 4 more years of Obamunism. And we get to pay for it too, ban park benches asap, the NRA is the only rational voice in a room full of soccer balls.
Merry Christmas
Is that a cuckoo clock I hear?
Vivian, you're the kind of person that will blame a pencil breaking on Obama. I thought Republicans were for self-responsibility but all you do is blame someone else - Obama!
I have a thousand times more respect for this poor homeless lady than I do Vivian and anyone like her!
Vivian,
Your comment doesn't make any sense. A nut sets someone on fire and you make it about politics. I think your brain is made of soccer balls. Get some help - psychiatric help!
I pray the woman recovers. God Bless Her.
No need to reply to me, Vivian, because I don't want to read anymore of your strange comments.
Vivian is a perpetual LOSER! She can'T get over the fact that her choice for President LOST! Now we see why...she is simply a poor judge of character because she lacks of character. What a LOSER!
This were we are as a Society.....Pity.
OMG! God Help this poor homeless woman.... And Vivian.... F*ck off!
you are all just mad because I am a successful person and I tell it like it is, you know the truth. WAKE UP AMERICA, time to strap on the gold plated diapers
Vivian, talking about "soccer balls," is your last name "Box-of-rocks?"
Are you saying the guy setting the lady on fire is a Romney republican who can't stand the so-called "entitlement class?"
"Rational?" Nothing you post is rational!
So I assume you will be posting a petition wanting Rubbing alcohol banned from Walgreens, Seems to be the common reaction the Obama Blamers take. Good luck with that crown in heaven I'm sure St Peter will be thrilled to have a wonderful example of christian sympathy like yourself.
Thank you Vivian, for showing yet another level of low class. Just when I thought I saw it all, you lower the bar to an entirely new low of humanity.
I won't even go into how politically screwed up you are too.
Wow. Just....wow.
vivian we have no idea whether you are successful or not, other than you word which seems to not be worth much. As for the "gold plated diaper" I am not sure where you are going with that, President Obama has not increased spending on welfare, in reality the conservative Presidents we have had in the past 30 years have done more to drive people into bankruptcy and forced more onto the welfare roles than the Liberals. You are a victim or propaganda designed to make you believe the opposite of what is true. The man who torched this poor woman was probably a Fox News Zombie just like you.
With no due respect vivian, no successful person in America would take the time to troll the comment section of a news website with the stupidity that rolls off your finger tips.
However, I can find man references to you in the Bible you claim to read, Jesus spoke at length condemning your kind.
finally some people are making sense around here
Vivian, you've proven one thing, you're an idiot. Unfortunately, you can't fix stupid, and you can't seem to make it stop talking. It's just a shame we can't make people take emotional and mental health tests before they're allowed to use computers. You're probably one of those hypocrites that calls themselves christian while doing everything except following Christ, whose only commandment to us was "love one another". Guess your small, stagnant brain doesn't comprehend that, huh?
What the h311 has gotten into people now days? This is disqusting. Some act like all these homeless people chose to be homeless. Some may, but not all do.
Vivian
You are an idiot to the max. This is not Obamas doing. Try looking in the mirror at idiots like you...you errogant tw@t.
The gop has had things that could improve our country for months but they chose to sit on them because they dont want to cancel their yauchting party or skip their golf game. lazy b@st@eds. need to go to an hourly wage...waste of space..like you.
Nice, a nut job trys to kill a homeless person and everybody goes politcal! Evil knows of no such boundaries! Hopefully because of the media she will get the full medical attention she needs, and won't be kicked to the curb because she is poor! Hopefully this inhuman reject has large pockets from which a good laywer can take for her to make sure she is taken care of. I wish her the best in her recovery, and that this reject gets his for this sick and cruel act.
Vivian is a troll. Do not feed her/him. All the comments she/he posts are anti-Obama and pro-religion (God's wrath and stuff like that).
She/he is mentally ill and needs some serious help.
is is really sad and I pray for her recovery.
We now have 3.5 million homeless in America while 'fat cat's on Wall Street get richer and richer..
What a country..
THIS ISNT POLITICAL. No one supports setting homeless people on fire. Not republicans, not democrats. Ok?! Seriously, not everything is about politics.
This guy is a disgusting person. Why attack helpless people? The world is a shame sometimes.
Vivian
We could ALL tell how successful you were by your "All wise and knowing" Moronic babble...
Couldn't we people??????
It funny how you all bash Vivian, but if this were a gun issue , you nuts would be going loco on guns. Maybe you nuts should practice what you preach.
Karl Thoma makes a good albeit sad point: Hateful people do hateful things. We can try to minimize the damage by making some items less accessible but we will never succeed at ridding society of hateful people and the mean and destructive things they do.
garp0813-4199335
You hit the nail on the head with that one.
I have to agree with Garpo on this one.... I'm not hearing anyone screaming for banning anything or instituting new laws to regulate the sale of rubbing alcohol. For some reason their reaction to this story is appropriate and rational. The perpetrator of the crime is "evil", "is this what our society has come to", "what's wrong with this person"..... Those are all logical reactions. Now if only those same reactions and thought processes were used when discussing the gun issue, there may just be a meaningful conversation on that subject or they'd just realize that some people are just "evil" or that "this is what our society has come to".... Either way it is sad.... But Garpo is absolutely right.
Humanity is not humane at all. Overall.
The lady set on fire was 60 years old. No person deserves this let alone a 60 year old woman. Rome is burning once again folks. To much sickness going on in the world today. Glad I don't have to contribute to the fearful hateful side of it all. It is nice seeing a person smile when I use my manners. It is nice to see the appreciation when i hold open the door for an elderly person I do not know.
The little things mean everything.
Im shocked to find all of these "this isnt political" comments on here from most who were probably feeling the exact opposite after a man shot and killed two firefighters and injured two others on friday.
So to be clear, only gun violence is allowed to be taken to a political spectrum, but burning a defenseless homeless person is not.
Save me for feeling conflicted about the constant hypocrasy on these comments section. I must not know not what I read.
Time to ban the rubbing alcohol...
Vivian, disclose your location so somebody can show you the way to enlightenment. tnuc.
And, if they caught this guy, make a public spectacle of him.
This is what is really wrong with the "great" U.S. of A. When someone is so messed up morally that they would deliberately set another person -- homeless or not -- on fire, the Society that they are a part of has FAILED.
And to the COWARD who did this, may you suffer ten times the agony you have inflicted upon your victim(s). KARMA IS A BITCH, YOU MUTHERFUKKER!
What kind of sick bastard does something like this ? This is the kind of S.O.B that needs to be disposed of without any hesitation. We do not need people like this on the planet.....
Burn him at the stake in a public square.........
I suspect it was someone like "vivian"
Vivian
We should let the woman light the match.
NOw thats what im all for. Good ole fashion public punishment. Maybe wannabe criminals would think twice if they had to watch someone burn in a public square. Maybe it seems draconian, but it apparently works.
Don't burn him at the stake- burn him on a bench!
Or just leave him in a holding cell until he goes to sleep and then give him a warm wake-up surprise!
oh noes!!11!11! we need to ban matches and alcohol immediately, think of the children
How on earth is that where your mind went?
"Story about a homeless woman being burned? I'd better insert my own opinion about something completely different"
gbreault85, Rabid NRA supporter.
It's not completely different.
Homicidal maniacs randomly killing strangers just for fun.
Spoken like a true coward gbreault85!
You'll burn in hell along with the demon that lit the match.
gbreault85
Got STUPID?
Brooke. You had to ask? Isn't it obvious gbreault85 does?
Absolutely horrendous and disgusting.
That poor woman...
Her life went from bad to worse.
Out of the frying pan,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
After reading nearly a dozen posts of drool I nominate you mcgusto for Troll of the year..........
Really? I feel bad for her. Some on here would like to burn more homeless and you attack me?
WTF?
just your comment on the frying pan. tasteless
maybe, but it's actually kind of funny
Are you a registered sex offender by chance? You appear to operate on the same moral level.
I have to agree with ctviking. I feel sorry for her, but it was kind of funny.
Thanks Burns.
Leftist knee jerk reaction - Ban fire!
Right wing knee jerk reaction - blame liberals!
Oh, or not enough god in our country. That a well-worn pair of pants indeed!
Hambone. He did not blame liberals. He was talking about liberal reactions.
Leftist knee jerk reaction - It's Bush's fualt. We could all go on forever and ever but get back to the story.
MC,
I didn't say he did.
Grow up, please. This isn't about leftist or rightist. A woman was seriously burned by a nut. Get over yourselves.
Again, neither the right nor left supports the burning of innocent people. I've never seen one politician on the pro-burning homeless people platform.
Hitler threw them in ovens.
He was a politician.
there is no need for citizens to possess matches or have the ability to create fire. this hobo would be alive today if this guy did not have access to fire starting devices. where is congress?
Ridiculous comment.
Uh, Lavrn, I think that uncle Henry was being Sarcastic, But it is true, where is congress? I can tell you where congress is. They are Huddled to see how they can Line there Personal Pockets and steal more from the Middle Class.
Unbelievable. Where are all these sicko's coming from?
Look below at Joe's picture.
There's a bunch of them posting here that are just one match away.
Republican Tea Party ! Where else would you find such fine examples of humanity.
Viet Nam era Vet,
You are just as bad as Vivian. Tea Partiers are not for setting people on fire. No one is.
letusreason, they probably came from Arizona or Texas
Problem #1: Lots of homeless people
Problem #2: It's getting more expensive to heat your home in the winter
Seems like these two problems can solve themselves.
The only problem solved is.....There is now NO QUESTION that you are a D*CKHEAD. Hope you end up on the streets someday ....
I'll buy Joe a shot of your most flammable liquid.
Make it a double and get me an ash tray.
Joe Scatone.....your profile picture should be a picture of a big $$hole because that's what you are. You look like the type of person that would do this sort of thing.
It was a joke people get over it. He's just making "light" of the situation :) I got it Joe.
Here I am suggesting real solutions to real problems and you have to resort to personal attacks. By my calculations the average homeless person is equal to 25 - 35 gallons of #2 fuel oil (varies by weight and alcohol intake) or 1/4 cord of firewood. Do you have a better idea?
you would fit in GREAT with the KKK. oops. you ARE a kkk member. and makessence, if you read his other comments on his profile, he is nothing but an ignorant bigot.
I agree with Joe
of course you do you POS
I guess from the story. maybe, they might have caught the guy , possible. Can't really tell with the bad journalism.
There seems to be plenty of evidence.
Take him in a plane, light him on fire, then drop him in with Bin Laden.
After all sharks might like there food medium rare.
Another conservative Republican wanting to rid the world of poor people
Your lucky they aren't targeting stupid people.
MC Gusto,
They are ... people like Vivian.
Its LA, so probably not conservative...
MC Gusto
They can't target stupid people because then they'd have to get rid of themselves.
Gun nuts must be really worried as they're trying to apply their failed logic at every turn. Guns are made for killing, alcoholic beverages, cars, matches, etc. are not. Logic and common sense... get some.
The Constitution also does not protect your right to own alcoholic beverages (sort of - it did repeal the amendment outlawing them), cars, matches, etc.
I believe your logic has failed Weebles. Guns and many other weapons in the hands of a law abiding person are made for deterrence and defense. Under your logic we live in a world that doesn't need guns, or locks, or fences, or anything else that keeps unwanted people away from you.
While we are at it Cook up the Tickle monster and the Theater shooter and drop them in to the sharks to.
We need NUT control not gun control. Someone will find a way to blame this on the NRA also. This kind of NUT should be taken out!!! Somehow this country needs to take a serious look at mental health!
Fire is not regulated enough! We need tighter restrictions on who can access fire!
What a bastard.
They should fill his underwear with 91% alcohol and light him off.
Totally horrible and inhuman thuggery. The charge should be attempted murder. As if this poor lady didn't have enough problems to worry about. Attacks on the homeless have become a kind of sport for some twisted people. A sickening symptom of social decay. If you can't or won't help a homeless person, at least leave them alone.
I would commend Mr. Ipina for getting involved, calling 911 and trying to help. Plenty of people would have simply walked away.
You're right, Mr. Ipina is a hero.
Unfortunately, due to her age and the fact that most homeless people are not in good health, it might well end up a murder charge. And I hope premeditated murder, as he had to go and buy the accelerant before commiting the crime.
The poor woman is in for a lot of pain, if she survives, months of pain. There is not one thing funny about this, it is sick, and evil. Yes I said it, anyone who would do this is evil.
America is becoming a Godless Hell Hole.
I don't believe in god but I'm starting to believe in demons.
Homeless attacks suck.
Remember last spring when someone chewed off a homeless man's face.
The balance of good and evil is definitely tipping towards the dark side.
so true.
I was thinking the same thing. However, I'm still working on my 26 acts of kindness (up to 22). Maybe we can tip the scales back a little by working on being kinder people. I'll add one more for this poor woman, and two more for the firefighters in NY. My list continues to get longer, but the "burden" is light.
mr. tapado,
The only way to stop a bad guy with flammable liquids, is a good guy with flammable liquids, right dumb_ass?
No, a good guy with a gun could have dropped him cold before the match turned the woman into flames, costing her untold pain and taxpayers hundreds of thousands in medical bills.
Guess mimi doesn't know that guns spit particles of burning gunpowder. Got an experiment for ya mimi, get your pistol, pour a quart of flammable liquid on the floor, then discharge the firearm.
We'll wait....
Arsenic,
Watch myth busters. You cant blow stuff up with a gun shot.
Mr Burns, you don't know the difference between blowing stuff up and setting things on fire.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/117245904 even the Governor of Utah does
vivan - you'll burn in hell along with the demon that struck the match.
We should ban it now evidently!
I can see the slogans;
Lefty - Rubbing alcohol kills
Righty - Rubbing alcohol doesn't kill people, people kill people
Tim, Seems like a good case for the ol' eye for an eye to me. Let's see how this guy likes it when he is burning up....I wouldn't put him out. You would have to for sure.
MCG - you are confusing me alittle...lol.
"America is becoming a Godless Hell Hole. I don't believe in god but I'm starting to believe in demons."
???
No, this is about people being so ignorant about how, why, and by whom our country was formed. These people have had no knowledge or experience with the kind of fulfillment that comes from honorable sacrifice for the greater good.
This is about people who are so deficient and unskilled in the ability to think through their actions to possible consequences and who possess such an inability to verbally articulate their problems that they blindly act on their emotional frustrations with hate.
This is about people who were abused physically and emotionally as children and are so filled with irrational self-loathing that they think that lashing out at innocent people and/or animals will soothe their pain.
This is about people who are willing to settle for negative attention because they don't know how to earn positive attention. Their sense of high self-esteem has never formed and they have a secret death wish to be put out of their misery.
This is about a nation of people which suffers from systemic fear, ill health, and intellectual paralysis while it waits for "Someone Else" to fix the problem.
Agreed, I & I. Sad, but true.
I bet he thought he was doing the neighborhood a favor. He did get himself removed from the neighborhood.
The guy is a cruel S O B. he should have his egg sack set on fire and have the flames stomped out.
scottish barbarian - I believe the correct term is "sperm sack". Also, I wouldn't even bother to stomp out his flames. He certainly didn't bother to help this poor woman.
Well Kris on the other hand stomping on his sack might be equally satisfying for some.